Saint Mary's frosh sex chant sparks review 'My colleagues and I were shocked by this incident,' Halifax university's head says

Saint Mary's University says it will conduct a special review to find out why student leaders were chanting about non-consensual underage sex in a video captured during frosh week at the Halifax school.

St. Mary's president Colin Dodds said the behaviour of the students is inexcusable.

In a video posted online, the students used the word "young" as an acronym in a chant that included the lines: “Y is for your sister […] U is for underage, N is for no consent […] Saint Mary’s boys we like them young.”

Dodds said in a statement: "My colleagues and I were shocked by this incident and are deeply sorry that our students, and now the community at large, were exposed to disturbing sexually charged material."

Dodds said he is forming a presidential council to investigate the incident and ways to prevent any other situations.

Meanwhile, the video drew harsh criticism Thursday from university students and health advocates.

Jared Perry, chair of Students Nova Scotia, stepped down from his position in light of the controversy. Perry is also the president of the student council at Saint Mary's.

"There is not, and has never been, any place for this sort of culture on our university campuses," said Jonathan Williams, executive director of Students Nova Scotia. "While the SMU students involved surely failed to grasp the severity of what they were doing and saying, this very fact highlights the need to speak out about sexism when we see it."